Ardiden Limited (ASX: ADV) has released a strong report on June Quarterly Activities at its highly prospective Gold and Lithium Projects in northwest Ontario, Canada.
During the period, Ardiden’s primary focus was drilling activities at its Pickle Lake Gold Project, where nearly 6,000m of diamond drilling has been completed so far at the Western Hub.
Assay results from just 3 holes of the 43-hole programme have been reported so far.
Another interim drill results update is planned in the coming weeks as assays are received from the laboratory. The balance of drill results are expected during August and September.
Drilling has paused to allow for assay results to be received and interpreted which will allow a better understanding of the gold mineralisation and to plan the next phase of very exciting exploration activities. The delay in assay results also provides opportunity for prudent cash management.
On the Lithium projects, Ardiden’s lithium joint venture partner, Green Technology Metals, has meanwhile funded all activities and doubled the JORC resource at Seymour, one of three joint-ventured hardrock spodumene lithium projects.
Ardiden Managing Director and CEO Rob Longley remains in Canada and has been on site since May 2022. Rob also attended the Toronto PDAC Conference in June with North American-based Ardiden representatives; Michelle Roth and Mick Stares.
Gold Exploration Activities – Western Hub – Pickle Lake Gold Project
The Pickle Lake Gold Project is a continuous District-Scale 1,088km2 (108,800 hectare) gold landholding, located east of Red Lake in the well-endowed Uchi Geological sub-province of north-western Ontario, Canada.
The Uchi Province is host to numerous currently producing gold mines at Red Lake and at Musselwhite, and is a highly active exploration area with Evolution, Newmont, Kinross, and numerous other exploration companies all currently active with gold exploration work in the area.
Drilling at the Western Hub so far has completed 43 holes for 5,939m of fully oriented diamond core to a maximum depth of 252m, comprising: 1. Esker Prospect – 18 holes for 2,206m 2. Tonsil Prospect – 19 holes for 2,680m 3. Dorothy Prospect – 3 holes for 655m 4. Dobie Prospect – 3 holes for 398m
Ardiden’s drilling in the Western Hub is targeting the Golden Patricia geological sequence both to the northwest and to the south-east of the historical underground mine. The mine was developed to 750m vertical depth over a 3km strike length and extracted 619,796oz Au @ 15.2g/t Au and ceased operations in 1997 due to poor gold prices.
Ardiden’s drill programme has been systematically testing four gold prospects along a 20km strike length and will expand over time to the full 60km length of the entire Western Hub belt.